Braised Mushrooms with Pepper

Braised Mushrooms with Pepper is a flavorful vegetarian dish that highlights the natural sweetness of mushrooms balanced by the bold, spicy warmth of black pepper and chili.  It pairs perfectly with steamed rice and can be made with any combination of your favorite mushrooms.

Serves: 2–3

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

Mushrooms:

½ lb (225 g) mixed mushrooms, such as:

King oyster mushrooms

Straw mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms

White button mushrooms

Braising Sauce Ingredients:

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp vegetarian fish sauce

¼ cup water

Aromatics:

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 shallot, minced

1 tsp fresh ginger, shredded

1 Thai chili, finely sliced (optional)

Optional Garnish:

Fresh cilantro leaves

Directions:

Clean the mushrooms thoroughly.  Slice the king oyster mushrooms into 1-inch pieces.  Trim the stems from the remaining mushrooms and separate them into bite-sized pieces, if needed.

In a small bowl, combine the black pepper, soy sauce, vegetarian oyster sauce, sugar, vegetarian fish sauce, and water.  Stir until the sugar dissolves.

Heat a little oil in a skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the garlic, shallot, ginger, and Thai chili.  Sauté for 1–2 minutes, or until fragrant.

Add all of the mushrooms and stir-fry for 2–3 minutes, until they begin to soften.

Pour in the braising sauce and toss to coat the mushrooms evenly.  Cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove the lid and continue cooking for a few minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce and lightly glaze the mushrooms.

Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired, and serve hot with steamed rice.